GRAND RAPIDS, MI Oft-outspoken Rep. Justin Amash is portrayed as relishing the libertarian rebel label that has amassed him a significant following in a New York Times opinion piece that ran over the weekend.

Amash takes a starring role in the piece, titled "After Ron Paul, Then What?" and written by Reason magazine senior editor Brian Doherty, published Saturday on NYTimes.com.

The column by and large examines how retired Rep. Ron Paul, of Texas, oversaw a firing up of the Republican Party's libertarian voters, and how his son, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Amash are among those carrying the torch forward.

Amash is an ardent Paul supporter who frequently appeared at rallies for the latter and who shares many of the longtime congressman's beliefs.

Amash has in the past been singled out by Reason magazine as the lawmaker perhaps most poised to take up Paul's mantle, and Doherty's opinion piece seems to reinforce that:

The most prominent House Paulite is the second-termer Justin Amash, of Michigan. There is a new breed of Republicans who are much more libertarian in their views and have the debt as their primary concern and will fight to protect civil liberties, Mr. Amash told me last month. Its only a matter of time before these individuals work their way up in ranks and become leaders.

Mr. Amash embraces the libertarian label. In my district, people have a good idea what it means: limited government, economic freedom, individual liberty, he says. They see Im against wasteful spending and for protection of civil liberties.

The piece goes on to quote the younger Paul and Amash who "alienate some Republicans saying the party's libertarian faction is all but certain to help the GOP grow.

Doherty writes that some "libertarian stands" against federal bailouts and the so-called War on Drugs might have crossover appeal with Democrats and independent voters.

Amash, who has amassed a substantial following on his social media profiles, where he explains all his votes, told Doherty his libertarian bent helps him: "It shows you are serious about following the Constitution and defending American peoples liberties."

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Justin Amash relishes libertarian rebel label, writer says in New York Times opinion piece